Clearwater County is among the municipalities being queried by the province about the cost and overall impacts of the federal carbon tax.

The survey, which was sent out from the office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs asks municipalities to provide specific numbers and dollar figures it has been forced to pay to cover the cost of the levy.

That includes the total direct cost of the federal carbon tax on facilities such as running municipal buildings and recreation centres.

As well, it asks for the direct cost of the carbon tax on municipally-owned vehicles and equipment such as increased cost of fuel for operating fleet vehicles.

During its Oct. 8 regular council meeting, Deputy Reeve Genny Mehlhaff introduced a motion for County administration to complete the survey to be forwarded on to the province.

The Clearwater County motion passed unanimously.

In an e-mailed statement to 94.5 Rewind Radio News, Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver says the results will be used to sound the alarm to the feds about the tax’s downstream effects on municipalities. 

Alberta’s government is increasingly concerned about the impact that the federal carbon tax has on municipalities. The survey will be used to better understand the financial impact and pressures municipalities are facing due to the carbon tax, in order to effectively advocate to the federal government on their behalf.

The federal carbon tax continues to be one of the main drivers of rising costs across Canada for everything including food, fuel, and heating. Lowering the cost of everyday essentials remains a top priority for Alberta’s government.

Earlier this year, the Town of Rocky Mountain House signed a letter from MP Gerald Soroka lobbying the federal government to provide a carbon tax carve out for municipal governments.

Soroka says the levy has an inordinate effect on municipalities which could pass savings onto taxpayers if the carve out is granted.

Rocky Mountain House Town Councillor Tina Hutchinson says the carbon tax has had an effect on the Town’s bottom line.

“In our utility bills, we’ve definitely seen an increase. We’ve seen it with public works, fuel, maintenance and operations,” said Hutchinson, on the phone to 94.5 Rewind Radio News. “I don’t think there’s anybody across Alberta that could say the carbon tax has not affected them in some way.”

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